of standoffs and we look at the way washington works that we in the press and many in the political class fall into the habit of talking about what a small minority does as if it's the majority. i don't mean to go on too long -- >> but you are so pause a minute, ari. >> i think it's an important -- >> of course it is. >> it's not a question of 51 votes. it never has been in the united states senate long before all of these filibuster issues and things. if you lose a certain set -- number of senators, not 51, but if you're starting to wobble with people like susan collins, who is a moderate republican, and your support is cratering even among a relatively small group of senators, your nomination becomes politically untenable. and what susan rice's spokesman just told me was she started to think this was a distraction, a political distraction, and presidents have to worry about that. she obviously has a high regard for her friend, the president, and she didn't want to be a distraction to him. so, you know, it's unfortunate that this happened, but we shouldn't assume that it's the product of tota